Laudio/Llodio, Amurrio, Moreda de Álava/Moreda Araba, Iruña Oka/Iruña de Oca, Elvillar/Bilar, Asparrena, Ondarroa, Portugalete, Gernika-Lumo, Larrabetzu, Gorliz, Mallabia, Meñaka, Deba, Gabiria, Zarautz, Aduna, Elgoibar, Zumarraga
Many towns in the Basque Country celebrate festivities in mid August honouring Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Aug. 15th) and San Roque (Aug. 16th).
In Alava, for instance, the town of Llodio holds the feasts on August 15th-25th where everyone who attends will have the chance to participate in contests, enjoy sports activities -hockey, Basque pelota, skate boarding, basket, rural sports, bowling-, activities for the children, theatre plays, magic tricks, gastronomic tastings, open-air dances, running of the bulls and concerts, among others. The festive atmosphere also floods the streets of Amurrio with the presence of endless, such as Desfile de Carrozas (float parade), in which groups of young people take part. Fiestas' programme combines sports, gastronomy and leisure. Moreda de Alava, Nanclares de Oca, Elvillar and Asparrena are just a few of Alava's areas that celebrate these festivities during these days.
As for the province of Bizkaia, the towns get decked out to hold San Roque festivities. To begin, Portugalete (Aug. 14th-17th) will be home to several activities such as a medieval market, the traditional Jotas contest, and concerts. What's more, Gernika-Lumo (Aug. 14th-18th) will play host to several contests, sports events -rural sports, cesta punta...-, Basque dance shows, bertsolaris (singers of extemporary composed songs in Basque) and gigs. Other towns celebrating Nuestra Señora de la Asunción or San Roque festivities are Ondarroa -with its emblematic Arrantzale Eguna-, Larrabetzu, Gorliz, Mallabia and Meñaka, among others.
Moreover, San Roque festivities are very important in many towns of the province of Gipuzkoa, such as Deba (Aug. 14th-18th). There, religious celebrations, sports competitions, rural activities, open-air dances and street music bands ("txarangas") will be taking place apart from bullfights and Basque dances such as Ezpata Dantza, Esku-Dantza and Jorrai Dantza. As for Gabiria the town has a marked rural taste thanks to a combination of rural sports exhibition, folk dances, bertsolaris, open-air dances and games for the children. And Zarautz, Aduna, Elgoibar and Zumarraga also celebrate the fiestas.
